A sanctuary of knowledge and provoking information providing documented proof of a system dominated by a few elite bloated egos and that a ancient solution of a Silver bullet nature exists.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Texas Ruling Still Good Law: No Oath, Decision Void

False or no oath equals no authority
994 S. W. 2d 316
(Tx. App. - El Paso)
PRIETO BAIL BONDS, Appellant,
v.
The STATE of Texas, Appellee.
No. 08-00342-CV.
Court of Appeals of Texas,
El Paso.
May 27, 1999
Rehearing Overruled July 14, 1999
After criminal defendant failed to appear in court, the 34th District Court, El Paso County, Jack
Ferguson, J., entered judgment forfeiting $40,000 bail bond. Bail bond surety appealed. The Court of
Appeals initially affirmed, 948 S.W.2d 69. The Court of Criminal Appeals vacated and remanded for
reconsideration. Thereafter, the Court of Appeals, Larsen, J., held that: (1) senior judge who signed
judgment nisi was required, as appointed official, to take constitutional oath, and (2) because judgment nisi
was invalid, application for bail forfeiture was unsupported.
Reversed and rendered.
1. Criminal Law 1031(1)
Bail bond surety preserved for direct appeal its challenge to authority of senior judge who signed
judgment nisi, as prerequisite to forfeiture of bond, where surety raised objection after the judgment nisi
issued but prior to the final forfeiture hearing.
2. Judges 16(1)
Retired judge who exercised statutory election to become judicial officer was nevertheless
“appointed” to position of availability by presiding judge, who determined retired judge’s eligibility for
service, and thus, retired judge, who as senior judge signed judgment nisi, was not excused from taking oath
required of “appointed officers.” Vernon’s Ann. Texas Const. Art. 16, § 1; V.T.C.A., Government Code §§
74.055, 75.001.
See publication Words and Phrases for other judicial constructions and definitions.
3. Judges 16(1)
Senior judge, who held no true permanent office and was merely assigned to various courts from
time to time, nevertheless qualified as public “officer” by virtue of his being trusted with independent and
sovereign powers, and thus, senior judge, who signed judgment nisi, was not excused from taking oath
required of “appointed officers.” Vernon’s Ann.Texas Const. Art. 16, § 1.
See publication Words and Phrases for other judicial constructions and definitions.
4. Officers and Public Employees 1
An individual is a public “officer,” within meaning of constitutional provision requiring oaths of
appointed officers, if any sovereign function of the government is conferred upon that individual to be exercised for the benefit of the public largely independent of the control of others; public officer is one who
is authorized by law to independently exercise functions of either an executive, legislative, or judicial
character. Vernon’s Ann.Texas Const. Art. 16, § 1.
5. Judges 16(1)
Senior judges must take the oaths of officer required of appointed officers under the Texas
Constitution. Vernon’s Ann. Texas Const. Art. 16 § 1.
6. Judges 16(1)
Oaths of office that senior judge, who signed judgment nisi as prerequisite to bail forfeiture,
previously took while serving as district judge and justice of the court of appeals did not survive expired
terms of office and satisfy his current constitutional obligation to take oaths. Vernon’s Ann. Texas Const.
Art. 16 § 1.
7. Judges 16(1)
Oaths of office that senior judge, who signed judgment nisi as prerequisite to bail forfeiture,
previously took while serving as district judge and justice of the court of appeals were incomplete as a matter
of law, and thus, even if such oaths somehow survived his expired terms of office, they did not satisfy senior
judge’s current constitutional obligation, where earlier oaths did not include the “anti-bribery” oath presently
required. Vernon’s Ann. Texas Const. Art. 16 § 1.
8. Judges 26
Because senior judge was required to take the constitutional oaths, but did not do so, all judicial
actions taken by him, including signing of judgment nisi, were without authority, and state’s application for
bail bond forfeiture, which depended on judgment nisi, was unsupported. Vernon’s Ann. Texas Const. Art.
16 § 1.
9. Bail 75.2(1)
To be entitled to forfeiture of bail bond, state need only show: (1) a valid bond; (2) that the
defendant’s name was distinctly called at the courthouse door; and (3) the defendant failed to appear within a
reasonable time of that call.
10. Bail 75.2(1)
State’s burden to show that defendant’s name was distinctly called at the courthouse door and
defendant filed to appear within a reasonable time of that call, as elements of bail bond forfeiture, is satisfied
by the judgment nisi.
____________________
Mark T. Davis, El Paso, for appellant. Jose R. Rodriguez, County Atty., El Paso, for appellee.
Before Panel No. 3 BARAJAS, C.J., LARSEN, and CHEW, JJ.
OPINION ON REMAND
LARSEN, Justice.
Prieto Bail Bonds appeals a judgment nisi and subsequent judgment forfeiting a $40,000 bail bond
upon which Prieto was surety. We reverse and render.
Oath of Senior Judge Jerry Woodard
[1] In its first point of error, Prieto contends that the judgment of forfeiture is invalid because the
judgment nisi, a procedural prerequisite to the forfeiture, was defective as the judge who signed it failed to
take an oath of office. We initially affirmed the trial court’s judgment by holding that the presiding judge
was a de facto judge acting under color of title and the only means to challenge his authority was by quo
warranto proceeding.1
The Court of Criminal Appeals, however, reversed our ruling and remanded the case
for analysis in light of its recent holding in Wilson v. State.2
Wilson overruled the previous dictate that a
procedural irregularity in the assignment of a former judge who is otherwise qualified may be challenged
only through a quo warranto proceeding.3
Under Wilson, a party may challenge the authority of a trial judge
by regular appeal provided the party objects pretrial.4
In this case, Prieto raised its challenge to Judge
Woodard after the judgment nisi issued but prior to the final forfeiture hearing. Since the judgment nisi is
the first notice of forfeiture given to a surety such a Prieto, 5
we find that Prieto objected timely.
Accordingly, we will address Prieto’s challenge to Judge Woodard’s authority pursuant to Wilson.
Facts
The Honorable Jerry Woodard was District Judge of the 34th District Court of El Paso County for
seventeen years, from 1969 to 1986. He was Justice on the Eight Court of Appeals from 1986 until April
1992. In 1992, he retired and requested assignment as a senior judge pursuant to the Texas Government
Code.6
1
Prieto Bail Bonds v. State, 948 S.W.2d 69, 71 (Tex.App.--El Paso 1997), rev’d, 978 S.W.2d 574 (tex.Crim.App.1998).
2
Wilson v. State, 977 S.W.2d 379 (Tex.Crim.App.1998).
3
Id. At 380.
4
Id.
5
Tex.Code.Crim.Proc.Ann. arts. 22.02, 22.03 (Vernon 1989).
6
Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 75.001 (Vernon 1998). Judge Woodard took his last oath of office as a judge when he became justice of the appellate court in
1986; that term of office expired upon his retirement in 1992. He has not taken the oaths required by the
Texas Constitution 7
since that time.
8
Pursuant to the Texas Government Code,9
the presiding judge of the sixth administrative judicial
region appointed Judge Woodard to preside over the West Texas Impact Court NO. 1, Judge Woodard met
all statutory requirements for the appointment. No statute explicitly requires that judges appointed under
Section 74 take an oath of office before being assigned to cases as visiting judges.10 We must decide, then,
whether the two oaths constitutionally required of all “elected and appointed” officers apply to senior judges
assigned pursuant to Chapter 74, and if so, whether the judicial acts of a judge who has failed to take the
oaths are done without authority.
1. The Constitutional Requirement
Prieto contends that, when presiding over this case, Judge Woodard sat as a senior judge without
taking the two oaths of office required by the Texas Constitution. Thus, having failed to fulfill the
constitutional prerequisites to holding office, his judicial actions were void or voidable, including his signing
of the judgment nisi forfeiting the bond in question.11
Article XVI, Section 1 of the Texas Constitution requires that ‘appointed officers’ take two oaths
before entering upon the duties of their offices.12 The statutory scheme for appointment of judges subject to
assignment does not require those officials to take an oath upon accepting an assignment.13 Nevertheless, the
Texas Code Construction Act provides that:
In enacting a statute, it is presumed that: (1) compliance with the constitutions of
this state and the United States is intended....14
The State makes several arguments as to why a senior judge need not take the constitutional oaths upon
electing that status. First, the State contends that Judge Woodard is not an officer subject to the oath
requirement because he was not ‘appointed’ to the position of senior judge, nor did he “hold office” as a
senior judge. He therefore is not an “appointed officer” required to take an oath under Article XVI, Section
1 of the Texas Constitution. In the alternative, the State argues that the oaths Judge Woodard took as a
Justice of the Eight Court of Appeals and as a District Judge satisfy the constitutional requirements.
2. “Appointment” vs. “Assignment”
7
Tex. Const. art XVI. § 1.
8
The Constitution requires that all elected and appointed officers of the State, before taking the oath of office, shall
swear or affirm that they have not paid or promised any money or thing of value or promised public office or
employment to secure votes or an appointment (the “anti-bribery oath”). This oath must be filed with the Secretary of
State before searing or affirming to the oath of office, in which the officer swears to faithfully execute his or her duties
and preserve, protect, and defend the Constitutions of the United States and of Texas. Tex Const. art XVI, § 1.
9
Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 74.054 (Vernon 1998).
10 Tex. Gov’t Code Ann § 74 (Vernon 1998).
11 See Lone Star Industries, Inc. v. Ater, 845 S.W.2d 334, 337 (Tex.App.--El Paso 1992, orig. proceeding).
12 Tex.Const. art XVI, § 1(c), (d).
13 Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. Chs. 74 & 75 (Vernon 1998).
14 Tex. Gov’t Code. Ann. § 311.021 (Vernon 1998).
[2] The State focuses its argument on the transient nature of a senior judge’s assignments to various
courts in general, and Judge Woodard’s temporary assignment to the 34th District Impact Court in particular.
It argues that senior judges are merely randomly “assigned”15 to conduct the business of sundry courts when
needed and therefore do not fit the definition of an “appointed” officer required to take the oaths.16
Moreover, the State contends that the position of senior judge subject to assignment “materializes through a
voluntary election by the judicial retiree rather than through the process of election or appointment.” The
State refers us to Texas Government Code Section 75.001, which allows a retire to “elect to be a judicial
officer.”17
The retired judge’s election, however, does not automatically qualify the judge for assignments.
Retired judges are assigned by the presiding judge of an administrative region pursuant to Section 74.055 of
the Government Code. Under that section, the presiding judge maintains a list of retired and former judges
who meet certain requirements and therefore qualify for assignments.18
In order to be eligible for the presiding judge’s list, the retired judge must demonstrate that he or she: (1)
served as a judge for at least 48 months in a district, statutory probate, statutory county, or appellate court;
(2) developed substantial experience in an area of specialty (civil, criminal, or domestic relations); and (3)
was not removed from office. 19 The retired judge must also certify under oath that he or she did not resign
from office after receiving notice that the State Commission on Judicial Conduct instituted formal
proceedings against the judge. Finally, the retired judge must certify to the presiding judge that he or she will
not appear and plea as an attorney in any court in Texas for a period of two years.20 Thus, the retired judge’s
placement on the presiding judge’s list, and thereby his or her eligibility to receive assignments, is subject to
the presiding judge’s determination that the retired judge meets the statutory requirements. Under this
statutory scheme, the presiding judge is essentially a gate keeper, and as such, his or her placement of a
retired judge on the list is akin to an appointment of that retired judge to a position of availability for
assignment to various courts as needed.
3. Office Holder vs. Officer
[3, 4] The State further argues that an assigned judge cannot be an “officer” because the judge holds
no real office. We find, however, that the focus of our inquiry should be the nature of the judge’s function
as an “officer” rather than on the nature of the “office” held. An individual is a public officer if any
sovereign function of the government is conferred upon that individual to be exercised for the benefit of the
public largely independent of the control of others.21 A public officer is one who is authorized by law to
independently exercise functions of either an executive, legislative, or judicial character.
22 Specifically, the
authorization to pronounce judgment and to adjudicate the rights of parties appearing in court has been held
to be a sovereign function of the government and a mark of public office.23 Senior judges such as Judge 15 See Tex Gov’t Code Ann. § 74.055 (Vernon 1998) (judges subject to “assignment”).
16 There is no dispute that senior judges are no longer “elected officers” when they take senior status and make
themselves available for assignment.
17 Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 75.001(a) (Vernon 1998).
18 Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 74.055(a) Vernon 1998).
19 Id.
20 Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 74.055(c) (Vernon 1998).
21 Guerrero v. Refugio County, 946 S.W.2d 558, 570 (Tex. Ap.--Corpus Christi 1997, no writ) (citing Aldine Indep. Sch.
Dist. V. Standley, 154 Tex. 547, 280 S.W.2d 578, 583 (1955)).
22 State ex rel. Hill v. Pirtle, 887 S.W.2d 21, 931 (Tex. Crim. App.1994)(orig. proceeding.). Woodard, though they hold no true permanent office and are merely assigned to various courts from time to
time, are nevertheless authorized to function as judges and as such are entrusted with independent and
sovereign powers.24 Accordingly, we hold senior judges are “public officers.”
4. Senior Judges Must Take the Oaths
[5] Having found that senior judges are ‘appointed’ and are ‘officers’, we conclude that they must
take the oaths required of appointed officers under Article 16, Section 1 of the Texas Constitution when
taking status as a senior judge subject to assignment. We recognize that the position of senior judge does not
fit neatly within the traditional notion of an ‘appointed officer’. We are hard pressed, however, to hold that
one with authority to preside over litigation and adjudicate the interests of the litigants in a courtroom in the
State of Texas should, or can, be exempt from taking an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the
Constitution and laws of the United States and of the State of Texas.25
5. Survival of the Oath
[5, 7] The State contends, in the alternative, that the oaths Judge Woodard took as District Judge and
Justice of the Eight Court of Appeals satisfy the constitutional requirements. The State offers no authority in
support of this contention and we do not find the argument persuasive. Elected judges must take a new
oath with each new term: we can see no logic whereby a senior judge’s oath would survive an expired term
of office, while that taken by a judge successfully seeking re-election would not. In any event, we find that
Judge Woodard’s prior oaths were incomplete as a matter of law. Judge Woodard’s earlier oaths of
office, which were taken in 1986 and before, did not include the ‘anti-bribery’ oath. This oath was added to
the Texas Constitution only in 1989.26 It was required in 1992 when Judge Woodard took senior status and
in 1993 when he entered the judgment nisi in question. Accordingly, even if Judge Woodard’s previous
oaths continued to bless his status as a senior judge, they did not meet the constitution’s requirements at the
time he presided over this case.
6. The Judgment Fails Because the Judgment Nisi was Entered Without Authority
[8] Because Judge Woodard was required to take the constitutional oaths, but did not do so, all
judicial actions taken by him in the case below were without authority.27 The Judgment Nisi therefore is
without effect.
[9,10] Prieto contends that the judgment of forfeiture must fail since the judgment nisi, at least in this
case, was an essential element of the State’s case. To be entitled to forfeiture of a bond, the State need only
show: (1) a valid bond; (2) that the defendant’s name was distinctly called at the courthouse door; and (3) the
defendant failed to appear within a reasonable time of that call. The burden of proof on the second and third
prongs is satisfied by the judgment nisi.28 In this case, the judgment nisi was entered into evidence at the
forfeiture hearing as Exhibit 1. Since the judgment nisi is without effect, however, it cannot satisfy the
State’s burden of proof in this case. We find no other evidence in the record to support prongs two and three
23 Thompson v. City of Austin, 979 S.W.2d 676, 683(Tex. App.--Austin 1998, no pet.h).
24 Id.
25 Tex. Const. art XVI § 1.
26 Tex. Const. art. XVI, § 1(d) (amended Tex. H.J. Res. 40, § 1, 71st Leg. R.S., 1989 Tex. Gen. Laws 6428).
27 See Ater, 845 S.W.2d at 337(actions taken by judge who filed to meet all requisites for qualification as retired judge
subject to assignment held null and void).
28 Alvarez v. State, 861 S.W.2d 878, 888 (Tex. Crim. App. 1998). of the State’s forfeiture case. Accordingly, the evidence is insufficient to support the judgment of forfeiture
and we sustain Prieto’s first point of error.
7. Void or Voidable?
Because Prieto Bail Bonds raised its complaint about Judge Woodard’s qualifications at the trial
level, as required under Wilson, we need not reach the question of whether his actions in this case were done
wholly without authority, and thus are void, or were simply procedurally infirm, and therefore merely
voidable. Under either analysis, we must reverse. But we feel bound to observe that the Court of Criminal
Appeals has held in a similar situation, involving an “alternative” municipal judge who had never taken the
oaths of office, that: “without the taking of the oath prescribed by the Constitution of this State, one
cannot become either a de jure or de facto judge, and his acts as such are void.”29
CONCLUSION
Having sustained Prieto’s first point of error, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and render
judgment in favor of Prieto. Our disposition of this point makes it unnecessary for us to reach Prieto’s
remaining points of error.
29French v. State, 572 S.W.2d 934, 939 (Tex. Crim. App. 1978) (opin. On sec. reh’g): see also Davis v. State, 956
S.W.2d 555, 559 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997): Fain v. State, 986 S.W.2d 666, 675-76 (Tex. App. --Austin 1998, no pet. h.